Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-09
BEGINNING TO SQUEEZE
BUSINESS CRIPPLED BY THE
NEW COMMERCE. LAW.

/ Shippers Unable TO Get Rates Beyond
the Ohio and Virtually Barred Out of
! Western and Northern Territory-Ef-
feet on he Rice and lumber Interests-
What Business Men Say About the
Future.
The lumber men are not alone in their
trouble over the interstate commerce law.
The suspension otthe long and short haul
clause on the lines in the Southern Rail-
way and Steamship Association affords
partial temporary relief for the territory
south OF the Ohio river. Bat everything
is unsettled 80 far as rates beyond the
Ohio are concerned, and the effect on Sa-
vannah is going to be much greater than
was at first suspected.
A prominent rice dealer said yesterday
that his trade is virtually cut off, abso-
lutely in the West and Northwest. The
withdrawal of through rates by the roads
north OF the ohio leaves them at liberty
to charge whatever they see fl on future
shipments. The Central railroad stamps
on its bills Of ladlng that the shipment is
| received and forwarded subject to the
conditions of the new law. A through
rate from Savannah to Chicago cannot be
| obtained from the Central. The Mer-
chants and Miners Transportation Com
| pany has given a rate To Chicago by way
OF Baltimore, and thence over the Balti-
more and OHIO railroad. Capt. West,
agent of the steamship line, announces
that the rate may be Withdrawn at any
| time.
AS 1t is the freight is about 40 per cent.
| higher tDan the old rate. Formerly the
rate per 100pOunGs of rice from savannah
to Chicago on dig lots was 25c. Now 1t
Is Doc. per 100 pounds and with no guar
antee that it will remain at that figure,
because the Baltimore and Ohio may
change its charge for hauling from Balti-
more to Chicago.
Through rates are given by the same
route to Cincinnati, GAINESVILLE and other
! points east of Chicago reached by the
Baltimore and Ohio, and rate is given
to st. Louis. If these rates stand great
deal of the traffic between the South and
the est Will certainly 90 by way OF Bal
| timore. That ought 20 bring the trans
Ohio lines which withdrew their rates to
terms. Places like LeaVenworth and
minneapolis cannot be reached by direct
through rates now, and no rates
are given for points like Buffalo
and Syracuse, for which 1t would seem
there can be little excuse Both places
are within the State in which the
Northern terminal of the New York
steamships is, and hence the railroads
ought to be able to furnish their rates to
the Ocean Steamship Company.
No through rates are Obtainable, it is
said, for any points in the States OF New
York and Pennsylvania outside OF the
cities of New York and Philadelphia. All
OF the Northern States are large con-
sumers Of rice, as are also the Western
States. The latter enjoy competitive
rates by water up the Mississippi
and on the Missouri. The railroads along
these rivers can justly demand the Inter-
State Commerce Commission 20 suspend
the long and short haul clause in their
cases. That Will give New Orleans a
great advantage in competing with Sa-
vannah for the trade of the Upper Missis-
sippi and Missouri river territory, and
this city is in danger of being completely
shut out from a large and profitable
trade which she built up In that remote
territory.
The naval stores BUYERS are not much
concerned Just now, because their West
ern trade will not open up fairly before
the first of next month. By that time
they hope through rates will be restored
and that they will not be excessive.
The through rates from st. Louis and
Chicago by way of Baltimore are fOrtu-
nate for the erocers, as they can get their
-four and meats by that route. No con-
tracts to run three months or more for
shipments to points outside of State are
likely TO be made without some reference
to the new law.